Mark Bednar; 202-738-0744

Less than 1 percent of leftover bombs in Laos has been cleared

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) today led a bipartisan letter of 18 Members of Congress to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Matters with the request for $30 million to remove unexploded ordinance in Laos in the Fiscal Year 2018 State and Foreign Operations Bill.

The letter, in part, said:

“In one of the most enduring yet least well-known legacies of the Vietnam War, unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from the nine-year U.S. bombing campaign over Laos is still endangering villagers as they go about their daily tasks. Between 1964 and 1973, more than 270 million cluster bomblets were dropped on Laos. This is more than was dropped on Germany and Japan combined during the Second World War. The U.S. flew more than 580,000 bombing missions over Laos, the equivalent of one bombing mission every 8 minutes around the clock for nine years. Less than one percent of the estimated 80 million Less than one percent of the estimated 80 million leftover bombs in Laos has been cleared, resulting in more than 20,000 casualties since the war ended in 1975. On a per capita basis, Laos is the most heavily bombed country in history.”

Background:

To read the letter in its entirety, click HERE.

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